Seven Causes of Foundation Problems Part One: Transpiration

In our new series, we present the seven major causes that lead to foundation repair, beginning with one you may know about, but may have never heard before: transpiration. 

Transpiration occurs when a tree needs more water during the dry season, so the roots begin to draw moisture from the soil. This vapor supplies leaves with the necessary water. However, while transpiration is beneficial for a tree’s health, it can be disastrous for your home’s foundation because it can lead to wall damage. Wall damage will affect the integrity of the home’s foundation as these walls help to literally hold up the rest of the house. Wall damage can also leak water into the home.

The Relationship Between Transpiration and Your Home’s Foundation

When trees transpire and take in all the moisture from the soil, the soil contracts due to the absence of water. 

If trees have roots that come close to your home, this will cause the soil to shrink away from the home, when it should be secure against the walls and floor of your basement.

When the soil contracts, voids occur against the foundation’s walls and floor, and these voids pose a problem that will lead you to call a foundation repair professional: cracks in the basement wall. If you’re noticing cracks, water in the basement, or leaning walls, you should contact a local, reputable professional right away. Because your foundation is what holds up the rest of your home, you should attend to these issues before they increase, and get more expensive.

Foundation Problems Caused by Transpiration 

Foundation repair experts can explain the reason why transpiration is a cause for concern. Perhaps you’re worried about cracks in the walls, water in the basement, or walls that don’t seem straight, but you’re not sure what do to next. The issue could be transpiration. Transpiration affects a house’s foundation because it changes the size and shape of the soil against your foundation walls. This expansion of soil puts pressure on your walls, leading to foundation problems.

Voids are problematic for a basement foundation is that soil serves as a kind of support, and when that support is removed, the weight of the house causes the foundation to shift, causing cracks in basement walls.

This shift in the foundation’s walls can cause issues on other floors of the house, as the cracks that occur are not limited to the basement. In turn, these unsightly cracks become entry points for water and insects.

Although the soil is dry now, water can fill those gaps during the next big rainstorm, which then creates a water problem in the house, as stormwater can seep through those cracks.

Flooring can also be affected by transpiration. If the soil underneath the flooring contracts due to transpiration, the foundation will become uneven when gaps are left. This unevenness can cause floor cracking as well as cracking in the upper levels of the home. 

When you’re in the basement doing routine chores such as storing items or doing laundry, try looking for cracks around the doors and windows, water, or tilted or bowed (bulging) walls. Don’t forget to keep an eye on windows and doors upstairs as cracks of reach areas above the basement.

What a Foundation Repair Expert Can Do to Fix the Damage Done

Kansas City foundation repair experts know about foundation issues related to transpiration.

Foundation repair due to transpiration could include sealing the cracks in the basement walls that are caused by shifts in the foundation due to the voids and gaps as soil dries out. 

This method also doubles as basement waterproofing, as your foundation will then be protected against water that can enter through these cracks, especially when there is a void.

Foundation piering, an innovative foundation repair solution that PierMagic has mastered, can also help level out uneven, sloping floors where the soil has contracted. Piering uses high-quality steel and concrete to hold up the foundation so that flooring can’t sink or tilt unevenly, protecting your entire house.

How to Be Proactive About Transpiration

If you are concerned about transpiration on your property, the first step we always recommend is to be proactive in preventing a problem. 

One step you can take on your own is ensuring that you don’t plant new trees too close to your home. We recommend 10 to 20 feet for a variety of reasons, including pest control, taking advantage of their shade, and, of course, transpiration.

Most importantly, you can always get answers - including a free estimate and inspection - from a trustworthy, local company. We know Kansas City foundations, as we’ve been serving satisfied customers here for over fifteen years. While some foundation repair companies might suggest a solution that doesn’t take environmental factors into consideration, such as transpiration, PierMagic can offer a thorough analysis of your home’s foundation so you can get the answers you need.

How to Get a Free, Detailed Inspection by a Trusted Foundation Repair Team

If you notice signs of water, cracks in the basement walls, as well as walls or flooring that tilts or bulges, get in touch with PierMagic. These issues may be due to transpiration or one of the many other causes of foundation problems. We can help reassure you about what’s normal and what’s not, and provide our transparent, expert advice.

When you notice a crack in the basement wall, and are concerned about basement waterproofing, or when you see changes in your basement that you suspect are cause for concern, PierMagic can provide an inspection. 

For foundation repair in Kansas City, PierMagic has the experience and knowledge you can count on. Call us at (816) 765-4800 or send us a message online, and we will take care of you and your home.